Khayelitsha Caterers Forum finds common ground with MJC Halaal Trust on certification

A resolution has been reached between the Khayelitsha Caterers Forum (KCF),  Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness and the MJC’s Halaal Trust, in which the trust will aid the KCF with the knowledge needed for certification at the Khayelitsha Hospital.

The meeting between the stakeholders was held on Wednesday, following a statement and demand released by the KCF calling on the immediate removal of halaal certification as a compulsory requirement for catering at the hospital, citing that it infringed on their cultural, religious, and constitutional rights.

The MJC Halaal said while it supported an open dialogue, it wanted to clarify that halaal certification is not a religious imposition on consumers or businesses but a food preparation and handling standard that ensures meals are suitable for patients with specific dietary needs, while remaining fully consumable by people of all faiths or none.

The ANC for the Dullah Omar Region in the Western Cape said it was part of the facilitation: “The ANC City of Cape Town Leader of the Opposition Cllr Ndithini Leon Tyhido has facilitated the resolution of the impasse between the Khayelitsha Caterers Forum (KCF), the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, and the MJC’s Halaal Trust, which involved a perceived exclusion of local caterers by the KDH and the department using halaal compliance as an inhibitor.

“The matter has now been resolved with the two parties (MJC-Halaal Trust and Khayelitsha Caterers) entering into a first-of-its-kind agreement where the Trust would from now on help local caterers with the necessary knowledge and certification that would allow them to further benefit from the halaal industry as a whole.”

The MJC Halaal Trust and KCF said in a joint statement that during the engagement, it was clarified that halal certification is not a religious imposition on businesses or consumers, nor is it intended to exclude local enterprises.

It said the meeting addressed misconceptions regarding halal certification, including the belief that only Muslim-owned businesses may supply halal-certified products.

"It was clarified that the majority of businesses seeking halal certification are not Muslim-owned, and that certification is commonly pursued as a means of accessing broader markets." Hospital management provided clarity on operational and procurement considerations that contributed to earlier misunderstandings," the parties said.

"As a result, processes were clarified to ensure fairness, transparency, and broader participation by eligible local catering businesses. Moulana Zakariyah Philander representing the MJC Halal Trust and Xolani Tshandu representing the Khayelitsha Caterers Forum agreed to establish an ongoing working relationship to support Forum members who wish to better understand halal certification requirements and processes, particularly those businesses that already meet baseline regulatory and food safety requirements."

In a media statement, the Khayelitsha Business Forum (KBF), said: "Our fight will always be against any entity that seeks to continue this trend of excluding our people from the economy, including government entities. This was a fruitful meeting which ensured the Halaal Trust, the body which certifies companies with a halaal certificate, is open to forming a partnership with local SMMEs and structures, including KBF.”

In response to the demands earlier this week, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness said the Department wished to clarify that it does not seek to exclude local businesses or undermine transformation.

“The primary responsibility of the public health system is to ensure that all patients, staff, and visitors receive safe, dignified, and appropriate care, including access to meals that meet diverse dietary, medical, and religious requirements for all patients.

During their earlier communication, the KCF said catering services should be inclusive, diverse, and reflective of the broader community they serve, without enforcing religious conditions that exclude others, citing that their constitutional rights were being infringed upon and called for fairness towards their Christian and African traditional beliefs.

Maulana Philander explained that Halal certification is not a religious imposition on consumers or businesses. He said it is a food preparation and handling standard that ensures meals are suitable for patients with specific dietary needs, while remaining fully consumable by people of all faiths or none.

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